Pressure adjustment and trip for printing cylinders



Sept. 25, 1951 H. E. PEYREBRUNE PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT AND TRIP FORPRINTING CYLINDERS Filed March 22, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.flan/z Efgqrebrana q 1951 H. E. PEYREBRUNE 2,568,751

PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT AND TRIP FOR PRINTING CYLINDERS Filed March 22,-1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flan/2i" Pqyrebr'urze,

P 25, 1951 H. E. PEYREBRUNE 2,568,761

PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT AND TRIP FOR PRINTING CYLINDERS Filed March 22, 19464 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR. ffezz/zifeyreruma p 25, 1951 H. 5.PEYREBRUNE 2,568,761

PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT AND TRIP FOR PRINTING CYLINDERS Filed March 22, 19464 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 176mm ffia/rebruzze,

iatentecl gept. 25,

UNITED A STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT AND TRIP FOR PRINTINGCYLINDERS enri E. Peyrebrune, River Forest, 111., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Miehle Printing Press & Manufacturing Company,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application March 22, 1946,Serial No. 656,255

4 Claims. (01. 101218) The invention relates to printing presses and hasreference more particularly to improved tripsion cylinders duringtheprinting operation.

In ofiset printing presses the impression to be printed is transferredby the plate cylinder to the blanket cylinder which 'in turn forms aprinting couple with the impression cylinder to print the. design onsheets passed between the cylinders. It is old in the art to trip thecylinders of such a press to interrupt the regular contact between thecylinders thereby to intermit the normal printing operation. For suchtripping purposes it has been proposed to eccentrically mount theimpression cylinder and to also eccentrically mount the blanketcylinder, independent actuation of said eccentrics serving to producethe desired tripping functions; Subsequent developments, as disclosed bythe patent to Robertson 1,107,843, granted August 18, 1914, contemplatethe mounting of the blanket cylinder for movement in two directions withtripping of said cylinder from the .plate and then from the impressioncylinder taking place in timed sequence and in the order named. Morerecent improvements as disclosed -mode of operation over previouslyknown mechanism representing the prior art.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of improvedtripping mechanism for offset presses embodying a novel arrange- .mentof eccentrics for journalling the blanket cylinder and which will have amode of operation whereby both eccentrics are instrumental in"efiectingmoveme'nt of the cylinder for tripping 2 with respect to theimpression and also the plate cylinder, although rotation is imparted toonly one eccentric at a time for producing the tripping operations,respectively.

Another object is to provide improved tripping means for an offset presshaving eccentric mechanism at the respective ends of the blanketcylinder for journalling the cylinder, providing for movement in twodirections whereby to move the blanket cylinder out of contact with theimpression and plate cylinders respectively, and wherein said mechanismembodies two eccentrics having mounting relation one on the other withrelative rotation of the eccentrics taking place for effecting saidtripping operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide eccentric journallingmechanism for the respec tive ends of the blanket cylinder adapted toeffect tripping movements of said cylinder with respect to theimpression and plate cylinders and wherein said eccentric journallingmechanism has combined therewith pressure adjusting means for varyingthe squeeze pressure on the sheets as they pass between the impressionand blanket cylinders during the printing operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide eccentric journallingmechanism of the type and for the purposes described having combinedtherewith pressure adjusting means for varying the printing pressurebetween the blanket and impression cylinders and which is capable ofactuation to adjust said pressure during a printing operation, the saidpressure adjusting means incorporating a combination worm and spur gearand associated mechanism making possible said adjustments duringprinting.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be morefully described and particularly pointed out in the specification,drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and whereinlike reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 isa vertical sectional view showing the trip mechanism of the inventionapplied to the blanket cylinder of an offset printing press,the-cylinders being on impression; I,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 1 but showingthe trip mechanism in tripped position with the cylinders offimpression;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken 3 vertically through theframe of the press and showing the eccentric journaling memberscomprising the trip mechanism of the invention;

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing the improved gear drive for thepressure adjusting means of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of Figure1.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figures 1, 2 and 3, the sideframes IIJ comprise the side members of a conventional offset type ofprinting press which has been selected for illustrating the presentinvention. The side frames are spaced for receiving and journalling theprinting instrumentalities including 'a plate cylinder Il,a blanketcylinder I2, and an impression cylinder I3. The plate cylinder IIcarries the conventional plate which is inked by ink ing rollers not 1liminary inking 'offthe plate cylinder, or when it is found that a sheetis not being fed to the printing couple or is'being fed improperlyregistered. Them'ovementpf the blanket cylinder from contact with itscompanion cylinders willenable the passing "of a sheet through the presswithout givingthe sheet" an impression.

For tripping the blanket cylinder as above described, the cylinderisjournalled at its respective ends by a novel arrangement ofeccentrics,as best shown in'Figu'res land 2. However, the plate cylinder II is'journalled in the frames of the press by means'of fixed bearings andthe impression cylinder 13 is likewise journalled'in' fixed bearingswhereby these cylinders do not have bodily movement but 'only'rotarymovement for performing the printing operations. The journalling shaftI4 for the blanket cylinder I2 is mounted at its respective en'dsby' aninner eccentric journalling member I5, as illustrated by Figure 3, thesaid memberproviding'the roller'bearings I5. The outefeccentricjoiirnalling member ll is mounted 'on member I5 in a'inanner' wherebythe same may rotate with'respect to member I5. The journallingmem'berIIis supported by the frame II] of the press and conventional mechanismis provided,"to'be presentlydescribedffor independentl rotating'theeccentric members 15 and I? to effect the tripping movements of theblanket cylinder.

The arrangement of the three cylinders is such that the period of time,during which theinked plate is transferring the 'design'to the blanketcylinder 12, is not coincident with the period-of time during which theimpression is being printed upon the paper-passing betweenthe cylindersI2 and I3. Thusyit is desirable, in the event of a misfeeding ormisalignment of a fed sheet, to first trip the blanket cylinder withrespect" to the impression cylinder, and then with respect to the platecylinder, thus permitting thecomplete transfer of the inkedimpressionfrom the plate cylinder to'the blanket cylinder.- Bycompletingthe transfer of the impression "tothe takes place following the trippingoperation. In other words, since the two operations of inking andprinting are sequential, the trip and return of each should besequential, and this mode of operation is contemplated for the twoeccentric journalling members, namely, I5 and I1, provided by thepresent invention forj ournalling the respective ends of the blanketcylinder.

Referring to Figure 1, which shows the cylinders on impression, it willbe observed that the eccentric l5 has been located in a definiteposition' with respect to the axis a--b which connects the centers ofcylinders II and I2. The high portion I8 of said eccentric and the lowportion 26 of the same are in opposed relation and areapproximatelybisected equally by said axis. Referring to the eccentric journallingmember ll, it will be observed that a similar arrangement also exists.The axis cd connects the centers of cylinders l2 and I3 and theeccentric I'I has a definite relation with respect thereto and whereinsaid axis bisects approxi- 'mately equally the high portion 2| and thelow 'portion ZZ of said-member. As a result of this constructionrotation of the inner eccentric I5 will operate to move the blanketcylinder in a plished automatically during operation of the press andthe invention contemplates the provision of any conventional mechanismfor'this purpose whereby rotation in clockwise direction is applied tothe'shafti23 for. tripping with respect to the impression'cylinder, andthen to shaft'24,

for tripping with respect to the plate cylinder.

Upon rotation of shafti23 motion is imparted. to'yoke 25 since .thepartsare connected by means of the lever26-and link'Z'I. fThe link-is pivotedto the lever at 28 and the: opposite. end of the link is pivoted at30.120 an ear'3l formed integral with and projecting outwardlyiof yoke;25. 'QSaid shaft 24 has the lever 32 fixed thereto and the end of thislever is pivotally connected as at 33 to the threaded member 34. The'member passes through sleeve '36 and is suitably; held to the '37 atthe respective'ends of .thexsleeve.

sleeve in adjusted-position by-means of .the nuts The sleeve ispivotally joined asxat 38eto thebracket lil suitably secured asbyscrews4| to the outer eccentric IT. The yoke 25, as *best shownin Figure 3, isrotatably .mounted on the inner eccentric I5 having a juxtaposedposition, however, with respect to the outer eccentric [1. The wormwheel gear segment is suitably secured to eccentric I5 as by-in'eansvof:the:.bolts 43 and the parts are locked in secured relation bymeansof the key 44. Adjustable connection between the eccentric I5 and theyokesz5aisaccomplished through the ginstrumentality of :the;.combination -worm and spur gear"45; carried-by the yoke,the

said 'gear being: located :between theyoutwardly projecting bosses A6and being journalled by the shaft 41. It will be 'seeri that-rotation ofthe combination gear' 45- will produce movement of the gear segment 42and therewith the inner eccentric 15, the spiral convolutionsof saidgearhaving meshing relation'with'the segment. The I structure, therefore,provides adjustingymeans blanket cylinder proper printing of the firstsheet wherebythe rotative position ofeccentricifi may be adjustedrelative to the yoke25; In accordance with the invention it is desirableto adjust eccentric from the exterior of the press frame since therotative adjustments or this eccentric with respect to its associatedparts will vary the squeeze pressure applied to the sheets as they passbetween the blanket and impression'oylindersin-the printing operation.To accommodate rotation of yoke 25 which produces bodily movement of thecombination gear 45, the said gear functions both as a worm gear as wellas a spur gear, it being clear from Figure 4 that conventional gearteeth are cut into the convolutions forming the worm.

The drive shaft for the printing pressure adjustment is indicated bynumeral 50, the same extending transversely of the press, as shown inFigure 4, being suitably journ'alled at respective ends in the spacedside frames ID. A worm gear 5| is fixed to said shaft 50 at each end .ofthe same relatively adjacent the journalled ends of the shaft and saidworm gears have meshing relation with a combination worm and spur gear.45, respectively. This relationship between each worm gear 5| and itsrespective combination gear 45 is. maintained notwithstanding the factthat the combination gear has bodily movement which resultsfrom rotationof the yoke for tripping the blanket cylinder with respect to theimpression cylinder. .It will be observed that when the cylinders are onimpression, as shown in Figure 1,

the worm 5| has meshing relation with the combination gear 45 adjacentthe lower end of said gear. However, when the cylinders are offimpression the said worm 5| has meshing relation with the upper end ofthe combination gear 45. The provision of conventional gear teeth in theconvolutions of gear 45 permit this bodily movement when the combinationgear rotates upon rotation of worm 5 l A sprocket 52 is fixed to theouter projecting end of shaft 50, as shown in Figure 4, and the endlesschain 53 operatively connects said sprocket with sprocket 54 journalledby the stud shaft 55 provided by one of the frames Ill of the press. Thegear 56 rotatingwith sprocket 54 has meshing relation with the'pinion 5!which pinion is manually rotated by the handle 58. The pinion 60 alsohas meshing relation with gear 56 and the gear 6| meshes with-the pinionso as to be driven thereby. Said gear is suitably fixed to shaft 62 sothat the pointer 63 is accordingly rotated upon movement of the gear.The disc 64 is provided with indicia lsuch as 65 indicative of theprinting'pressure since the graduations on said dial represent thedistance between the outer peripheries of the blanket and impressioncylinders in units of onethousandths of an inch. 3

For describing the operation of the tripping mechanism and pressureadjusting means of the invention, it will be assumed that the cylindersare on impression as shown in Figure 1. In the event it is necessary totrip the blanket cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder, dueto the absence of a sheet or the misalignment of a fed sheet, the shaft23 is automatically actuated by the tripping mechanism of th press, thesame rotating in a clockwise direction to impart clockwise rotation toyoke 25 and the inner eccentric l5. The rotation thus imparted toeccentric l5 will produce movement of .the cylinder in a directionsubstantially parallel to the axi c-d, thus spacing the blanket cylinderwith respect to the impression cylinder. As a result of this trippingoperation the combination gear 45 is bodily moved, thus changing itsposition with respect to its driving instrumentality, the worm gear 5|.Bodily movement is permitted as a result of the teeth out in theconvolutions of gear 45. Rotation of shaft 23 to trip the blanketcylinder from the impression cylinder will set mechanism whichsubsequently causes clockwiserotation of shaft 24 and through lever 32and link 34 theouter eccentric is rotated in a clockwise direction,producing movement of the blanket cylinder ina' directionparallel to theaxis (1-12 and thus moving said cylinder out of contact with the platecylinder |l. As previously explained, since the operations of printingand inking are sequential, the trip and return of each are sequential,and the invention provides a pair of eccentrics at each end. of theblanket cyylinder capable of such operation and which have associatedrelation with each other with one eccentric being mounted for rotationon the other.

In accordance with the invention, it is possible to adjust the printingpressure and thes adjustments can be made during printing and withoutdisturbing or interfering with the tripping operation. It is onlynecessary to rotate handle 58 in the required direction for eitherincreasing or decreasingthe squeeze pressure, causing rotation of gear51 and gear 56 meshing therewith. Gear 56 drives the sprocket 54 whichin turn drives sprocket 52, causing rotation of shaft 50 and the wormgears 5|. Thisrotation of the worm gears will be imparted to theirrespective combination gears 45, the same being carried by their yokes25 and having bodily movement upon :rotation of said yokes for trippingpurposes. Irrespective of the rotative position of the yokes, however,the gears 45 will be rotated and they will transmit their rotarymovement to their respective worm Wheel gear segment 42 meshingtherewith and thus the inner eccentrics l5 are moved to a correspondingdegree. This movement of the inner eccentrics to adjust their rotativeposition with respect to yokes 25 and the outer eccentrics will vary thespacingv of the blanket cylinder with respect to the impressioncylinder. Accordingly, meansv are provided for adjusting the printing.i. e. squeeze pressure exerted by the blanket cylinder on sheets passingthrough the printing; couple and which is operable fromthe exterior ofthe press where it is readily accessible to the: operator. The extent ofthe printing pressure is: visually indicated by means of pointer 53 associated with dial 64. Rotation of gear 55 produces:

rotation, of pinion 50 and gear 5| with the result that the pointer willmove in synchronous relation with the rotation of the combination gears.and the pressure adjusting parts associated there-- with.

For assemblying the eccentrics E5 and H it'- should be understood thateccentric H is see-- tion'al,.being formed of two parts, whichconstruction, however, is not shown since the cross sectional views ofthe drawings do not permit this disclosure. Conventional means areprovided for securing the sections of eccentric I! together after thesame have been properly located on the inner eccentric I5. Anotherimportant struc tural feature is embodied in the design of eccentrics |5which is internally recessed on its respective sides for receiving thepreloadable roller bearings l6. These bearings provide substantiallyfrictionless means for journalling the shaft M in addition to forming adurable, compact structure which also permits of rotary movement of theeccentric |5 for tripping purposes.

The invention is not -to be limited to or by details o'fconstruction of"the particular embodi ment thereof'illustrated' in the drawings, asvarious forms'of the device will of coursebe apparent to those skilledin the art without" departing from the spirit of the invention "or'thescope of the claims.

What is claimed is: r

1; .In'a printing press having a plate, blanket and impression cylinderand means for tripping said blanket cylinder away irom'said plate andimpression cylinders, including nested eccentric members, the provisionof means 'for adjusting the position of one of said eccentricmember'stothereby vary the squeeze pressure of the blanket on the impressioncylinder comprising a yoke rotatably'mounted on one of said members, agear segment fixed tosaid member and arranged to mesh with a driven wormjournalled bysaid yoke and movable bodily therewithjsaid *Worm havingaxial grooves'through its -spiral convolutions, and manuallyoperable'means'remote from said'cylinder for adjusting the squeezepressure between said blanket and impression cylinder in cluding a driveworm having meshing relation with the axial grooves 'of"'said" drivenworm,

whereby said driven worm may move'bodily with said yoke duringthetripping operation while maintaining the neshing relationo'f saidgears.

-2. In an ofiset printing press,'the"combinati'o'n of a plate cylinderand-an impression cylinder having fixed axes of rotation, a blanketcylinder, eccentric means for tripping the'iblanketcyl'ir'ider off andon the plate andimpression' cylinders, and manually actuatedadjustingmean associated with said eccentri-c' m'eans' for varyingthe squeezepressure between the" blanket" and impression cylinders while thepress'is' 'in'operation, said adjusting 'means including a "movable"yoke for actuating the eccentric member whereby the blanket cylinder istrippe'dpif and'on the impression cylinder; a driving worm mounted "forrotation on a'stationaryshaft, a drive'nworm carried by saidyoke'to'move bodily therewith,

and a Worm-wheel gear segment associated with the said member tomov'e'it'jor adjustment'of the squeeze'pressure, said driven wormhavingits spiral convolutions cutto 'provide -axially"spaced circumferentialrows of gear te'eth so'that-the meshing relationship between 'said wormsis maintained irrespective ofthe position assumed by the driven worm due"toits bodily movement.

3. In a printing press; the combination'o'f a plate cylinder and animpression cylinder having fixed axes of rotation,ablanketcylinder'cperatively associated with said cylinder-spa shaftio'rsaid blanket cylinder, journalling means at each end of the shaftassociatedwith'trippingrnechanism for moving the cylinder selectively mtwo directions, said means each inchidin'g an'inner eccentric memberrotatable onth'e shaft andan outer eccentric member rotatableonsaid'inner member, a yoke mounted onzthe inner member androtatable tovary the "position-of the inner member with respect to the yoke,adjustable mean n't e" rm p e we e-Jewell??? 1X *1? yoke f r bod l m vemnt therew th seislver e h vin gro ves n its sp ra qenvqlu iq ss isnse prallel with ts axi worrm s gm nt fi ed the inner eccentric member andarranged to mesh with-said worm whereby the squeezepres re betw en-sa dlol n etrcy d and-sai i pression cylinder may b varied, and means re?-mote fromsaid cylinder and including-a drive Wormhaving a constantmeshing relation with said driven Worm for adjusting saidsqueezepressure,-sa'idparal lel grooves in'said driven-worm permitting movementof said worm with the yoke While maintaining its meshing relation withthe d i fir x q 4, Ina printing press having a pair of cylinderscomprising a printing couple; means for" tripping one of saidcylinderswith respect to theothei, inciudinga unitary arrangement of at-leastoneeccentric member at 'each end of 'one of said cylinders' for jou'rnalingthe same, said eccentric member" being mounted"for-rotation to performsaid tripping operations, means for rotatingsaid'member including a yokerbtata'bly mounted'pm said mem'beifltlie provisionof means foradjusting'the relative positions of said member and said yoke wherebyto' vary the squeeze" pressure between said pair 'of cylinders andincluding a gear' s'eg ment-"fixed to the eccentric member, a'wor mjournalled' in the yoke and arranged to mesh ally to"provide spurteeth'in its spiral "convolutions afdrive'*worm'having a' bodily'fixedposition an'dar'ranged to'meshwith the spur teethiorm'ed'intheiirs'tmentioned worm; and means remote fi'dm Sild cyiin'dei andassociated With saidd'r-i've worm for effecting "adjustment of saiddriven worm to thereby "vary 's'aidsqu'eeze pressure; the grooves'in'said driven wor'm permitting co istarit meshing relation betweensaid wo'r'ms' wheiitlie cylinder istrippedaswell when it 'isi'nprintingi ositionl l i I E. PEYREBRUNE.

nnFERENoEs CITED The following references are ofrecord in the fi "1? ,35} 1;

I NITED STAT

